Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) Research

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is incurable leukemia and the most common hematological malignancy in Manitoba. As the population ages, the incidence of CLL will increase. How we can improve the survival of CLL patients and better manage their care requires a collaborative effort where evidence-based research will play a major role. CCMB and the University of Manitoba provide a unique opportunity for us to implement a research cluster to tackle this challenge. We will use the existing provincial network to share important clinical findings of screening for second cancers, comorbidities, and referring patients to the CCMB CLL clinic.

Over the last 10 years, the highly productive collaborations between Drs. Gibson, Johnston, Banerji, and Marshall continues the legacy of outstanding hematology research in Manitoba. The Cluster aims to bring together researchers, government decision-makers, patients, primary care providers, and cancer specialists to improve the survival of CLL patients and cost-effectively improve their quality of life. It intends to create new technologies, new approaches to targeted therapy and a better understanding of the complex relationship between managing CLL concurrently with other diseases. Looking forward, these results will have an impact on the pharmaceutical and diagnostic industries. The Cluster establishes Manitoba as a centre of academic and clinical excellence in CLL.